Unitized manufacturing of a gas turbine engine

Abstract

A unitized build assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an exhaust duct, a hot section with a locking structure and including a combustor and turbine section. The hot section at least partially circumferentially surrounds the exhaust duct. The build assembly includes a compressor section with an interface structure and is proximal to the hot section. The hot section at least partially circumferentially surrounds at least part of the compressor section and the locking structure is configured to engage the interface structure to limit movement of the hot section relative to the compressor section.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A unitized build assembly for a gas turbine engine, the unitized build assembly comprising:
 an exhaust duct; 
 a hot section with a locking structure, wherein the hot section comprises a combustor and a turbine section, the hot section at least partially circumferentially surrounding the exhaust duct; and 
 a compressor section having an interface structure, wherein the compressor section is proximal to the hot section and the hot section at least partially circumferentially surrounds at least part of the compressor section, wherein the locking structure is configured to engage the interface structure to limit movement of the hot section relative to the compressor section; 
 wherein the locking structure comprises a locking spring radially outboard of the interface structure, and the locking spring contacts and is spring loaded radially against the interface structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The unitized build assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the interface structure includes an arresting plate. 
     
     
       3. The unitized build assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the arresting plate includes a stop tab configured to stop the hot section from rotating past the stop tab. 
     
     
       4. The unitized build assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the compressor section includes part of a forward rotor housing. 
     
     
       5. The unitized build assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking structure is configured to allow the compressor section to be secured to the hot section by sliding and rotating the hot section and the compressor section relative to one another. 
     
     
       6. The unitized build assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the interface structure includes an arresting plate, and the locking spring is configured to allow the compressor section to slide and rotate in a first direction relative to the hot section and resist sliding in a second direction. 
     
     
       7. The unitized build assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking structure includes ridges or teeth of a rotative spline, and the interface structure includes grooves in a mating piece of the rotative spline. 
     
     
       8. The unitized build assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking spring is a spring of a quarter turn attachment, and the interface structure includes a slot on a button of the quarter turn attachment. 
     
     
       9. The unitized build assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the build assembly is manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques. 
     
     
       10. A unitized build assembly for a gas turbine engine, the unitized build assembly
 an exhaust duct; 
 a hot section including a sidewall, a locking spring, a combustor and a turbine section, the hot section at least partially circumferentially surrounding the exhaust duct; and 
 a compressor section having an interface structure with an arresting plate, wherein the locking spring is configured to allow the compressor section to be secured to the hot section by sliding and rotating the sections relative to one another, and wherein an arresting plate is configured to limit the compressor section from moving relative to the hot section; 
 wherein the locking spring is formed integral with the sidewall in a unitary body, and the locking spring is radially between the sidewall and the arresting plate. 
 
     
     
       11. The unitized build assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the hot section includes ridges or teeth of a rotative spline, and the interface structure includes grooves in a mating piece of the rotative spline. 
     
     
       12. The unitized build assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the locking spring is a spring of a quarter turn attachment, and the interface structure includes a slot on a button of the quarter turn attachment.